17th June 2013

Another new plant for Keele. Not very exciting this time - more an "Anorak's" plant! It is Slender Trefoil Trifolium micranthum. It is a low-growing clover that looks very like a diminutive version of the Common Yellow Trefoil Trifolium dubium that invades our lawns.

The characteristics are that the central leaflet of the three has a very short stalk - no longer than the two either side. In T. dubium this central stalk is noticeably longer. Also T.micranthum has very few florets in the flowerhead - generally 1-4.

It is an uncommon plant in Staffordshire but countrywide it appears to be spreading northwards.

Slender Trefoil